Google has a crazy idea to weave computers like clothes

Google's top-secret Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division, where the search giant works on its craziest ideas away from the public eye, has a whole pavilion here at Google I/O, the company's biggest event of the year.

Among the craziest was Project Jacquard, a project that weaves electronics into fabric. In the demo at I/O, you could control the volume on a phone and make music pause or play just by tapping or swiping on a swath of totally normal fabric next to it.

Since it's a Google ATAP project, there's a chance it will never actually make it into a real product. But it's very cool. And it works!

It could open the door for all kinds of new, connected clothing. Imagine controlling your phone by swiping your jeans.

Take a look:

Matt Weinberger

The controls are in the piece of fabric with the slightly different texture, as you can see in this picture. Other than that, the cloth feels no different — it's just fiber with controls woven in.

Matt Weinberger/ Business Insider

Project Jacquard will be officially announced tomorrow, according to the project's website.

After that, we'll have more details. It's very likely named after Joseph Marie Jacquard, the 18th-century French weaver who came up with the idea for a programmable loom.

It's also worth noting that tons of companies are trying to find ways to make everyday clothing "smart." Ralph Lauren showcased a shirt last year with sensors woven into its fabric that could provide information about your workout. But there aren't many products like this that you can actually buy today — and the ones you can purchase usually focus on health and fitness tracking and are aimed at athletes.